4/5/2018 Keyboard shortcuts in Windows - Windows Help

Keyboard shortcuts in Windows

Applies to: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7

Select Product Version

Windows 10

Windows 10

Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an

alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse.

Additional keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts in apps

Windows keyboard shortcuts for accessibility

Microsoft Surface Hub keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts in Continuum for phones

Copy, paste, and other general keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this

Ctrl + X Cut the selected item
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy the selected item
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste the selected item
Ctrl + Z Undo an action
Alt + Tab Switch between open apps
Close the active item, or exit the
Alt + F4
active app
Windows logo key  + L Lock your PC
Windows logo key  + D Display and hide the desktop
F2 Rename the selected item
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F3 Search for a file or folder in File

Explorer
Display the address bar list in File
F4
Explorer
F5 Refresh the active window
Cycle through screen elements in a
F6
window or on the desktop
Activate the Menu bar in the active
F10
app
Show your password on the sign-in
Alt + F8
screen
Cycle through items in the order in
Alt + Esc
which they were opened
Alt + underlined letter Perform the command for that letter
Display properties for the selected
Alt + Enter
item
Open the shortcut menu for the
Alt + Spacebar
active window
Alt + Left arrow Go back
Alt + Right arrow Go forward
Alt + Page Up Move up one screen
Alt + Page Down Move down one screen
Close the active document (in apps
that are full-screen and let you have
Ctrl + F4
multiple documents open at the
same time)
Select all items in a document or
Ctrl + A
window
Delete the selected item and move it
Ctrl + D (or Delete)
to the Recycle Bin
Ctrl + R (or F5) Refresh the active window
Ctrl + Y Redo an action
Move the cursor to the beginning of
Ctrl + Right arrow
the next word
Move the cursor to the beginning of
Ctrl + Left arrow
the previous word
Move the cursor to the beginning of
Ctrl + Down arrow
the next paragraph
Ctrl + Up arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of
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the previous paragraph

Use the arrow keys to switch between
Ctrl + Alt + Tab
all open apps
When a group or tile is in focus on
Alt + Shift + arrow keys the Start menu, move it in the
direction specified
When a tile is in focus on the Start
Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys menu, move it into another tile to
create a folder
Ctrl + arrow keys Resize the Start menu when it's open
Ctrl + arrow key (to move to an item) Select multiple individual items in a
+ Spacebar window or on the desktop
Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key Select a block of text
Ctrl + Esc Open Start
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager
Switch the keyboard layout when
Ctrl + Shift multiple keyboard layouts are
available
Turn the Chinese input method editor
Ctrl + Spacebar
(IME) on or off
Display the shortcut menu for the
Shift + F10
selected item
Select more than one item in a
Shift with any arrow key window or on the desktop, or select
text in a document
Delete the selected item without
Shift + Delete
moving it to the Recycle Bin first
Open the next menu to the right, or
Right arrow
open a submenu
Open the next menu to the left, or
Left arrow
close a submenu
Esc Stop or leave the current task
 

Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this

Windows logo key  Open or close Start
Windows logo key  + A Open Action center

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Windows logo key  + B Set focus in the notification area

Open Cortana in listening mode

Notes
This shortcut is turned off by
default. To turn it on, select
Start  > Settings  >
Cortana, and turn on the
toggle under Let Cortana
listen for my commands
when I press the Windows
Windows logo key  + C
logo key + C.

Cortana is available only in

certain countries/regions, and
some Cortana features might
not be available everywhere. If
Cortana isn't available or is
turned off, you can still use
search.

Windows logo key  + Shift + C Open the charms menu

Windows logo key  + D Display and hide the desktop
Display and hide the date and time
Windows logo key  + Alt + D
on the desktop
Windows logo key  + E Open File Explorer
Open Feedback Hub and take a
Windows logo key  + F
screenshot
Windows logo key  + G Open Game bar when a game is open
Windows logo key  + H Start dictation
Windows logo key  + I Open Settings
 Set focus to a Windows tip when one
is available.

Windows logo key  + J When a Windows tip appears, bring

focus to the Tip.  Pressing the
keyboard shortcuts again to bring
focus to the element on the screen to
which the Windows tip is anchored.
Windows logo key  + K Open the Connect quick action
Windows logo key  + L Lock your PC or switch accounts
Windows logo key  + M Minimize all windows
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Windows logo key  + O Lock device orientation

Windows logo key  + P Choose a presentation display mode
Windows logo key  + R Open the Run dialog box
Windows logo key  + S Open search
Windows logo key  + T Cycle through apps on the taskbar
Windows logo key  + U Open Ease of Access Center
Windows logo key  + V Cycle through notifications
Cycle through notifications in reverse
Windows logo key  + Shift + V
order
Windows logo key  + X Open the Quick Link menu
Switch input between Windows
Windows logo key  + Y
Mixed Reality and your desktop
Show the commands available in an
Windows logo key  + Z
app in full-screen mode
Windows logo key  + period (.) or
Open emoji panel
semicolon (;)
Windows logo key  + comma (,) Temporarily peek at the desktop
Display the System Properties dialog
Windows logo key  + Pause
box
Search for PCs (if you're on a
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + F
network)
Restore minimized windows on the
Windows logo key  + Shift + M
desktop
Open the desktop and start the app
pinned to the taskbar in the position
Windows logo key  + number
indicated by the number. If the app is
already running, switch to that app.
Open the desktop and start a new
Windows logo key  + Shift + instance of the app pinned to the
number taskbar in the position indicated by
the number
Open the desktop and switch to the
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + last active window of the app pinned
number to the taskbar in the position
indicated by the number
Open the desktop and open the
Jump List for the app pinned to the
Windows logo key  + Alt + number
taskbar in the position indicated by
the number

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Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Shift + Open the desktop and open a new
number
Windows logo key  + Tab
Windows logo key  + Up arrow
Windows logo key  + Down arrow
Windows logo key  + Left arrow
Windows logo key  + Right arrow
Windows logo key  + Home
Windows logo key  + Shift + Up
arrow
Windows logo key  + Shift + Down Restore/minimize active desktop
arrow
Windows logo key  + Shift + Left
arrow or Right arrow
Windows logo key  + Spacebar
Windows logo key  + Ctrl +
Spacebar
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Enter
Windows logo key  + forward slash
(/)
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + V
Command Prompt keyboard shortcuts
Press this key
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert)
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert)
Ctrl + M
Alt + selection key
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12445/windows-keyboard-shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts in Windows - Windows Help
instance of the app located at the
given position on the taskbar as an
administrator
Open Task view
Maximize the window
Remove current app from screen or
minimize the desktop window
Maximize the app or desktop window
to the left side of the screen
Maximize the app or desktop window
to the right side of the screen
Minimize all except the active
desktop window (restores all windows
on second stroke)
Stretch the desktop window to the
top and bottom of the screen
windows vertically, maintaining width
Move an app or window in the
desktop from one monitor to another
Switch input language and keyboard
layout
Change to a previously selected input
Open Narrator
Begin IME reconversion
Open shoulder taps
To do this
Copy the selected text
Paste the selected text
Enter Mark mode
Begin selection in block mode
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Arrow keys Move the cursor in the direction

specified
Page up Move the cursor by one page up
Page down Move the cursor by one page down
Move the cursor to the beginning of
Ctrl + Home (Mark mode)
the buffer
Move the cursor to the end of the
Ctrl + End (Mark mode)
buffer
Move up one line in the output
Ctrl + Up arrow
history
Move down one line in the output
Ctrl + Down arrow
history
If the command line is empty, move
the viewport to the top of the buffer.
Ctrl + Home (History navigation) Otherwise, delete all the characters to
the left of the cursor in the command
line.
If the command line is empty, move
the viewport to the command line.
Ctrl + End (History navigation) Otherwise, delete all the characters to
the right of the cursor in the
command line.
 

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this

F4 Display the items in the active list
Ctrl + Tab Move forward through tabs
Ctrl + Shift + Tab Move back through tabs
Ctrl + number (number 1–9) Move to nth tab
Tab Move forward through options
Shift + Tab Move back through options
Perform the command (or select the
Alt + underlined letter
option) that is used with that letter
Select or clear the check box if the
Spacebar
active option is a check box
Backspace Open a folder one level up if a folder
is selected in the Save As or Open

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dialog box
Select a button if the active option is
Arrow keys
a group of option buttons
 

File Explorer keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this

Alt + D Select the address bar
Ctrl + E Select the search box
Ctrl + F Select the search box
Ctrl + N Open a new window
Ctrl + W Close the active window
Change the size and appearance of
Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel
file and folder icons
Display all folders above the selected
Ctrl + Shift + E
folder
Ctrl + Shift + N Create a new folder
Display all subfolders under the
Num Lock + asterisk (*)
selected folder
Display the contents of the selected
Num Lock + plus (+)
folder
Num Lock + minus (-) Collapse the selected folder
Alt + P Display the preview panel
Open the Properties dialog box for
Alt + Enter
the selected item
Alt + Right arrow View the next folder
Alt + Up arrow View the folder that the folder was in
Alt + Left arrow View the previous folder
Backspace View the previous folder
Display the current selection (if it's
Right arrow collapsed), or select the first
subfolder
Collapse the current selection (if it's
Left arrow expanded), or select the folder that
the folder was in
End Display the bottom of the active
window
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Home
F11
Virtual desktops keyboard shortcuts
Press this key
Windows logo key  + Tab
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + D
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Right
arrow
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Left
arrow
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + F4
Taskbar keyboard shortcuts
Press this key
Shift + click a taskbar button
Ctrl + Shift + click a taskbar button
Shift + right-click a taskbar button
Shift + right-click a grouped taskbar
button
Ctrl + click a grouped taskbar button
Settings keyboard shortcuts
Press this key
Windows logo key  + I
Backspace
Type on any page with search box
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12445/windows-keyboard-shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts in Windows - Windows Help
Display the top of the active window
Maximize or minimize the active
window
To do this
Open Task view
Add a virtual desktop
Switch between virtual desktops
you’ve created on the right
Switch between virtual desktops
you’ve created on the left
Close the virtual desktop you're using
To do this
Open an app or quickly open another
instance of an app
Open an app as an administrator
Show the window menu for the app
Show the window menu for the
group
Cycle through the windows of the
group
To do this
Open settings
Go back to the settings home page
Search settings
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Windows 8.1 & Windows 8.1 RT

Top keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains common keyboard shortcuts for Windows 8.1

and Windows RT 8.1.

Press this key To do this

Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy the selected item
Ctrl + X Cut the selected item
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste the selected item
Ctrl + Z Undo an action
Alt + Tab Switch between open apps
Close the active item, or exit the
Alt + F4
active app
Windows logo key  + L Lock your PC or switch accounts
Windows logo key  + D Display and hide the desktop

New keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains new keyboard shortcuts that you can use in
Windows.

Press this key To do this

Windows logo key  + start typing Search your PC
Zoom in or out of a large number of
Ctrl + plus (+) or Ctrl + minus (-) items, like apps pinned to the Start
screen
Zoom in or out of a large number of
Ctrl + scroll wheel items, like apps pinned to the Start
screen
Open the charms
Windows logo key  + C
In an app, open the commands for
the app
Windows logo key  + F Open the Search charm to search files
Windows logo key  + H Open the Share charm
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Windows logo key  + I Open the Settings charm

Windows logo key  + K Open the Devices charm
Lock the screen orientation (portrait
Windows logo key  + O
or landscape)
Open the Search charm to search
Windows logo key  + Q everywhere or within an open app (if
the app supports app search)
Open the Search charm to search
Windows logo key  + S
Windows and the web
Open the Search charm to search
Windows logo key  + W
settings
Show the commands available in the
app

Note
Windows logo key  + Z You can also see some settings
and options by going to the
Settings charm when the app
is open.

Switch input language and keyboard

Windows logo key  + spacebar
Windows logo key  + Ctrl +
spacebar
Windows logo key  + Tab
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Tab
Windows logo key  + Shift + Tab
Windows logo key  + Shift +
period (.)
Windows logo key  + period (.)
Esc
layout
Change to a previously selected input
Cycle through recently used apps
(except desktop apps)
Cycle through recently used apps
(except desktop apps)
Cycle through recently used apps
(except desktop apps) in reverse
order
Snaps an app to the left
Cycle through open apps
Stop or exit the current task

General keyboard shortcuts

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The following table contains general keyboard shortcuts in Windows.

Press this key To do this

F1 Display Help
F2 Rename the selected item
F3 Search for a file or folder
Display the address bar list in File
F4
Explorer
F5 Refresh the active window
Cycle through screen elements in a
F6
window or on the desktop
Activate the Menu bar in the active
F10
app
Close the active item, or exit the
Alt + F4
active app
Cycle through items in the order in
Alt + Esc
which they were opened
Alt + underlined letter Perform the command for that letter
Display properties for the selected
Alt + Enter
item
Open the shortcut menu for the
Alt + Spacebar
active window
Alt + Left arrow Back
Alt + Right arrow Forward
Alt + Page Up Move up one screen
Alt + Page Down Move down one screen
Switch between open apps (except
Alt + Tab
desktop apps)
Close the active document (in apps
that are full-screen and allow you to
Ctrl + F4
have multiple documents open
simultaneously)
Select all items in a document or
Ctrl + A
window
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy the selected item
Delete the selected item and move it
Ctrl + D (or Delete)
to the Recycle Bin
Ctrl + R (or F5) Refresh the active window

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Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste the selected item

Ctrl + X Cut the selected item
Ctrl + Y Redo an action
Ctrl + Z Undo an action
Zoom in or out of a large number of
Ctrl + plus (+) or Ctrl + minus (-) items, like apps pinned to the Start
screen
Change the size of desktop icons or
zoom in or out of a large number of
Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel
items, like apps pinned to the Start
screen
Move the cursor to the beginning of
Ctrl + Right arrow
the next word
Move the cursor to the beginning of
Ctrl + Left arrow
the previous word
Move the cursor to the beginning of
Ctrl + Down arrow
the next paragraph
Move the cursor to the beginning of
Ctrl + Up arrow
the previous paragraph
Use the arrow keys to switch between
Ctrl + Alt + Tab
all open apps
Ctrl + arrow key (to move to an item) Select multiple individual items in a
+ Spacebar window or on the desktop
Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key Select a block of text
Ctrl + Esc Open Start
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager
Switch the keyboard layout when
Ctrl + Shift multiple keyboard layouts are
available
Turn the Chinese input method editor
Ctrl + Spacebar
(IME) on or off
Display the shortcut menu for the
Shift + F10
selected item
Select more than one item in a
Shift with any arrow key window or on the desktop, or select
text within a document
Delete the selected item without
Shift + Delete
moving it to the Recycle Bin first
Right arrow Open the next menu to the right, or
open a submenu
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Open the next menu to the left, or

Left arrow
close a submenu
Esc Stop or leave the current task

Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows logo
key .

Press this key To do this

Windows logo key  + F1 Open Windows Help and Support
Windows logo key  Display or hide the Start screen
Windows logo key  + B Set focus in the notification area
Open the Charms
Windows logo key  + C

Windows logo key  + D Display and hide the desktop

Windows logo key  + E Open File Explorer
Open the Search charm and search
Windows logo key  + F
for files
Windows logo key  + H Open the Share charm
Windows logo key  + I Open the Settings charm
Windows logo key  + K Open the Devices charm
Windows logo key  + L Lock your PC or switch people
Windows logo key  + M Minimize all windows
Windows logo key  + O Lock device orientation
Windows logo key  + P Choose a presentation display mode
Open the Search charm to search
Windows logo key  + Q everywhere or within the open app (if
the app supports app search)
Windows logo key  + R Open the Run dialog box
Open the Search charm to search
Windows logo key  + S
Windows and the web
Windows logo key  + T Cycle through apps on the taskbar
Windows logo key  + U Open Ease of Access Center
Windows logo key  + V Cycle through notifications
Windows logo key  + Shift + V Cycle through notifications in reverse

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order
Windows logo key  + X Open the Quick Link menu
Show the commands available in an
app

Note
You can also see some settings
Windows logo key  + Z and options by going to the
Settings charm when the app
is open.

Windows logo key  + , Temporarily peek at the desktop

Display the System Properties dialog
Windows logo key  + Pause
box
Search for PCs (if you're on a
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + F
network)
Restore minimized windows on the
Windows logo key  + Shift + M
desktop
Open the desktop and start the app
pinned to the taskbar in the position
Windows logo key  + number 
indicated by the number. If the app is
already running, switch to that app.
Open the desktop and start a new
Windows logo key  + Shift + instance of the app pinned to the
number taskbar in the position indicated by
the number
Open the desktop and switch to the
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + last active window of the app pinned
number to the taskbar in the position
indicated by the number
Open the desktop and open the
Jump List for the app pinned to the
Windows logo key  + Alt + number
taskbar in the position indicated by
the number
Open the desktop and open a new
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Shift + instance of the app located at the
number given position on the taskbar as an
administrator
Cycle through recently used apps
Windows logo key  + Tab
(except desktop apps)

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Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Tab
Windows logo key  + Shift + Tab
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + B
Windows logo key  + Up arrow
Windows logo key  + Down arrow
Windows logo key  + Left arrow
Windows logo key  + Right arrow
Windows logo key  + Home
Windows logo key  + Shift + Up
arrow
Windows logo key  + Shift + Down Restore/minimize active desktop
arrow
Windows logo key  + Shift + Left
arrow or Right arrow
Windows logo key  + Spacebar
Windows logo key  + Ctrl +
Spacebar
Windows logo key  + Enter
Windows logo key  + Shift +
period (.)
Windows logo key  + period (.)
Windows logo key  + /
Windows logo key   + Alt + Enter
Windows logo key   + plus (+) or
minus (-)
 Windows logo key  + Esc
Dialog box keyboard shortcuts
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12445/windows-keyboard-shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts in Windows - Windows Help
Cycle through recently used apps
(except desktop apps)
Cycle through recently used apps
(except desktop apps) in reverse
order
Switch to the app that displayed a
message in the notification area
Maximize the window
Remove current app from screen or
minimize the desktop window
Maximize the app or desktop window
to the left side of the screen
Maximize the app or desktop window
to the right side of the screen
Minimize all but the active desktop
window (restores all windows on
second stroke)
Stretch the desktop window to the
top and bottom of the screen
windows vertically, maintaining width
Move an app or window in the
desktop from one monitor to another
Switch input language and keyboard
layout
Change to a previously selected input
Open Narrator
Cycle through open apps
Cycle through open apps
Initiate IME reconversion
Open WindowsMedia Center
Zoom in or out using Magnifier
Exit Magnifier
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The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that you can use in dialog
boxes.

Press this key To do this

F1 Display Help
F4 Display the items in the active list
Ctrl + Tab Move forward through tabs
Ctrl + Shift + Tab Move back through tabs
Ctrl + number (number 1–9) Move to nth tab
Tab Move forward through options
Shift + Tab Move back through options
Perform the command (or select the
Alt + underlined letter
option) that goes with that letter
Select or clear the check box if the
Spacebar
active option is a check box
Open a folder one level up if a folder
Backspace is selected in the Save As or Open
dialog box
Select a button if the active option is
Arrow keys
a group of option buttons

File Explorer keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this

 Alt + D Select the address bar
Ctrl + E Select the search box
Ctrl + F Select the search box
Ctrl + N Open a new window
Ctrl + W Close the current window
Change the size and appearance of
Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel
file and folder icons
Display all folders above the selected
Ctrl + Shift + E
folder
Ctrl + Shift + N Create a new folder
Display all subfolders under the
Num Lock + asterisk (*)
selected folder
Num Lock + plus (+) Display the contents of the selected

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folder
Num Lock + minus (-) Collapse the selected folder
Alt + P Display the preview pane
Open the Properties dialog box for
Alt + Enter
the selected item
Alt + Right arrow View the next folder
Alt + Up arrow View the folder that the folder was in
Alt + Left arrow View the previous folder
Backspace View the previous folder
Display the current selection (if it's
Right arrow collapsed), or select the first
subfolder
Collapse the current selection (if it's
Left arrow expanded), or select the folder that
the folder was in
Display the bottom of the active
End
window
Home Display the top of the active window
Maximize or minimize the active
F11
window

Taskbar keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with items on the
desktop taskbar.

Press this key To do this

Shift + click a taskbar button
Ctrl + Shift + click a taskbar button
Shift + right-click a taskbar button
Shift + right-click a grouped taskbar
button
Ctrl + click a grouped taskbar button
Open an app or quickly open another
instance of an app
Open an app as an administrator
Show the window menu for the app
Show the window menu for the
group
Cycle through the windows of the
group

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Remote Desktop Connection on the desktop keyboard

shortcuts

Press this key To do this

Alt + Page Up Move between apps from left to right
Alt + Page Down Move between apps from right to left
Cycle through apps in the order that
Alt + Insert
they were started
Alt + Home Display the Start screen
Switch between a window and full
Ctrl + Alt + Break
screen 
Display the Windows Security dialog
Ctrl + Alt + End
box
In full-screen mode, activate the
Ctrl + Alt + Home
connection bar
Alt + Delete  Display the system menu
Place a copy of the active window,
within the client, on the Terminal
Ctrl + Alt + minus (-) on the numeric
server clipboard (provides the same
keypad
functionality as pressing Alt+Print
Screen on a local PC)
Place a copy of the entire client
window area on the Terminal server
Ctrl + Alt + plus (+) on the numeric
clipboard (provides the same
keypad
functionality as pressing Print Screen
on a local PC)
“Tab” out of the Remote Desktop
controls to a control in the host app
(for example, a button or a text box).
Ctrl + Alt + Right arrow
Useful when the Remote Desktop
controls are embedded in another
(host) app.
“Tab” out of the Remote Desktop
controls to a control in the host app
(for example, a button or a text box).
Ctrl + Alt + Left arrow
Useful when the Remote Desktop
controls are embedded in another
(host) app.

Windows Help viewer keyboard shortcuts

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The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with the Help
viewer.

Press this key To do this

F3 Move the cursor to the search box
F10 Display the Options menu
Home Move to the beginning of a topic
End Move to the end of a topic
Move back to the previously viewed
Alt + Left arrow
topic
Move forward to the next (previously
Alt + Right arrow
viewed) topic
Display the Help and Support home
Alt + Home
page 
Alt + A Display the customer support page
Alt + C Display the Table of Contents 
Display the Connection Settings
Alt + N
menu
Ctrl + F  Search the current topic
Ctrl + P Print a topic

App rearranging shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for rearranging modern apps.

Note
Keep the Windows logo key  pressed down continuously while you're
rearranging apps, from the moment you enter rearrange mode and through
all the various rearrange commands. When you're done rearranging, release
your finger from the Windows logo key  to select the current arrangement.

Press this key To do this

Enter rearrange mode and select
Windows logo key  + . (period)
apps or dividers across monitors
Windows logo key  + left arrow Move app divider left
Windows logo key  + right arrow Move app divider right
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Windows logo key  + up arrow Maximize app

Windows logo key  + down arrow Close app
Windows logo key  + Esc Exit rearrange mode
Additional keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts in apps

Windows keyboard shortcuts for accessibility

Microsoft Surface Hub keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts in Continuum for phones

Windows 7

General keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains general keyboard shortcuts.

Press this key  To do this

F1 Display Help
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy the selected item
Ctrl + X Cut the selected item
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste the selected item
Ctrl + Z Undo an action
Ctrl + Y Redo an action
Delete the selected item and move it
Delete (or Ctrl + D)
to the Recycle Bin
Delete the selected item without
Shift + Delete
moving it to the Recycle Bin first
F2 Rename the selected item
Move the cursor to the beginning of
Ctrl + Right Arrow
the next word
Ctrl + Left Arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of

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the previous word

Move the cursor to the beginning of
Ctrl + Down Arrow
the next paragraph
Move the cursor to the beginning of
Ctrl + Up Arrow
the previous paragraph
Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key Select a block of text
Select more than one item in a
Shift with any arrow key window or on the desktop, or select
text within a document
Select multiple individual items in a
Ctrl with any arrow key + Spacebar
window or on the desktop
Select all items in a document or
Ctrl + A
window
F3 Search for a file or folder
Display properties for the selected
Alt + Enter
item
Close the active item, or exit the
Alt + F4
active program
Open the shortcut menu for the
Alt + Spacebar
active window
Close the active document (in
programs that allow you to have
Ctrl + F4
multiple documents open
simultaneously)
Alt + Tab Switch between open items
Use the arrow keys to switch between
Ctrl + Alt + Tab
open items
Change the size of icons on the
Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel
desktop
Cycle through programs on the
Windows logo key  + Tab
taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D
Use the arrow keys to cycle through
Ctrl+Windows logo key + Tab programs on the taskbar by using
Aero Flip 3-D
Cycle through items in the order in
Alt + Esc
which they were opened
Cycle through screen elements in a
F6
window or on the desktop
Display the address bar list in
F4
Windows Explorer
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Shift + F10 Display the shortcut menu for the

selected item
Ctrl + Esc Open the Start menu
Alt + underlined letter Display the corresponding menu
Perform the menu command (or
Alt + underlined letter
other underlined command)
Activate the menu bar in the active
F10
program
Open the next menu to the right, or
Right Arrow
open a submenu
Open the next menu to the left, or
Left Arrow
close a submenu
F5 (or Ctrl + R) Refresh the active window
View the folder one level up in
Alt + Up Arrow
Windows Explorer
Esc Cancel the current task
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager
Prevent the CD from automatically
Shift when you insert a CD
playing
Switch the input language when
Left Alt + Shift
multiple input languages are enabled
Switch the keyboard layout when
Ctrl+Shift multiple keyboard layouts are
enabled
Change the reading direction of text
Right or Left Ctrl + Shift
in right-to-left reading languages

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for use in dialog boxes.

Press this key To do this

Ctrl + Tab Move forward through tabs
Ctrl + Shift + Tab Move back through tabs
Tab Move forward through options
Shift + Tab Move back through options
Perform the command (or select the
Alt + underlined letter
option) that goes with that letter
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Enter Replaces clicking the mouse for many

selected commands
Select or clear the check box if the
Spacebar
active option is a check box
Select a button if the active option is
Arrow keys
a group of option buttons
F1 Display Help
F4 Display the items in the active list
Open a folder one level up if a folder
Backspace is selected in the Save As or Open
dialog box

Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows logo
key

Press this key To do this

Windows logo key Open or close the Start menu.
Display the System Properties dialog
Windows logo key + Pause
box.
Windows logo key +D Display the desktop.
Windows logo key +M Minimize all windows.
Restore minimized windows to the
Windows logo key + Shift + M
desktop.
Windows logo key +E Open Computer.
Search for computers (if you're on a
Windows logo key +F
network).
Windows logo key +L Lock your computer or switch users.
Windows logo key +R Open the Run dialog box.
Cycle through programs on the
Windows logo key +T
taskbar.
Start the program pinned to the
taskbar in the position indicated by
Windows logo key + number
the number. If the program is already
running, switch to that program.
Start a new instance of the program
Shift+Windows logo key +
pinned to the taskbar in the position
number
indicated by the number.
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Ctrl+Windows logo key
Alt+Windows logo key
Windows logo key
Ctrl+Windows logo key
Ctrl+Windows logo key
Windows logo key
Windows logo key
Windows logo key
Windows logo key
Windows logo key
Windows logo key
Windows logo key
Arrow
Windows logo key + Shift + Left
Arrow or Right Arrow
Windows logo key
Windows logo key
Windows logo key
Windows logo key
Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts
Press this key
Ctrl + N
Ctrl + W
Ctrl + Shift + N
End
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Keyboard shortcuts in Windows - Windows Help
+ number Switch to the last active window of
the program pinned to the taskbar in
the position indicated by the number.
Open the Jump List for the program
+ number pinned to the taskbar in the position
indicated by the number.
Cycle through programs on the
+ Tab
taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D.
Use the arrow keys to cycle through
+ Tab programs on the taskbar by using
Aero Flip 3-D.
Switch to the program that displayed
+B
a message in the notification area.
+ Spacebar Preview the desktop.
+ Up Arrow Maximize the window.
Maximize the window to the left side
+ Left Arrow
of the screen.
Maximize the window to the right
+ Right Arrow
side of the screen.
+ Down Arrow Minimize the window.
+ Home Minimize all but the active window.
+ Shift + Up Stretch the window to the top and
bottom of the screen.
Move a window from one monitor to
another.
+P Choose a presentation display mode.
+G Cycle through gadgets.
+U Open Ease of Access Center.
+X Open Windows Mobility Center.
To do this
Open a new window
Close the current window
Create a new folder
Display the bottom of the active
window
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Home Display the top of the active window

Maximize or minimize the active
F11
window
Ctrl + Period (.) Rotate a picture clockwise
Ctrl + Comma (,) Rotate a picture counter-clockwise
Num Lock + Asterisk (*) on numeric Display all subfolders under the
keypad selected folder
Num Lock + Plus Sign (+) on numeric Display the contents of the selected
keypad folder
Num Lock + Minus Sign (-) on
Collapse the selected folder
numeric keypad
Collapse the current selection (if it's
Left Arrow
expanded), or select the parent folder
Open the Properties dialog box for
Alt + Enter
the selected item
Alt + P Display the preview pane
Alt + Left Arrow View the previous folder
Backspace View the previous folder
Display the current selection (if it's
Right Arrow collapsed), or select the first
subfolder
Alt + Right Arrow View the next folder
Alt + Up Arrow View the parent folder
Display all folders above the selected
Ctrl + Shift + E
folder
Change the size and appearance of
Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel
file and folder icons
Alt + D Select the address bar
 Ctrl + E  Select the search box
 Ctrl + F  Select the search box

Taskbar keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with items on the
desktop taskbar.

Press this key To do this

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Shift + click a taskbar button Open a program or quickly open

Ctrl + Shift + click a taskbar button
Shift + right-click a taskbar button
Shift + right-click a grouped taskbar
button
Ctrl + click a grouped taskbar button
another instance of a program
Open a program as an administrator
Show the window menu for the
program
Show the window menu for the
group
Cycle through the windows of the
group

Remote Desktop Connection on the desktop keyboard

shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Remote
Desktop Connection.

Press this key To do this

Alt + Page Up Move between apps from left to right
Alt + Page Down Move between apps from right to left
Cycle through programs in the order
Alt + Insert
that they were started in.
Alt + Home Display the Start menu.
Switch between a window and full
Ctrl + Alt + Break
screen 
Display the Windows Security dialog
Ctrl + Alt + End
box
Alt + Delete Display the system menu.
Place a copy of the active window,
within the client, on the Terminal
Ctrl + Alt + Minus Sign (-) on the
server clipboard (provides the same
numeric keypad
functionality as pressing Alt+PrtScn
on a local computer).
Place a copy of the entire client
window area on the Terminal server
Ctrl + Alt + Plus Sign (+) on the
clipboard (provides the same
numeric keypad
functionality as pressing PrtScn on a
local computer).
Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow “Tab” out of the Remote Desktop
controls to a control in the host
program (for example, a button or a
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text box). Useful when the Remote

Desktop controls are embedded in
another (host) program.
“Tab” out of the Remote Desktop
controls to a control in the host
program (for example, a button or a
Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow
text box). Useful when the Remote
Desktop controls are embedded in
another (host) program.

Note
Ctrl+Alt+Break and Ctrl+Alt+End are available in all Remote Desktop sessions,
even when you've set up the remote computer to recognize Windows
keyboard shortcuts.

Paint keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Paint.

Press this key To do this

Ctrl + N Create a new picture
Ctrl + O Open an existing picture
Ctrl + S Save changes to a picture
F12 Save the picture as a new file
Ctrl + P Print a picture
Alt + F4 Close a picture and its Paint window
Ctrl + Z Undo a change
Ctrl + Y Redo a change
Ctrl + A Select the entire picture
Ctrl + X Cut a selection
Ctrl + C Copy a selection to the Clipboard
Ctrl + V Paste a selection from the Clipboard
Move the selection or active shape
Right Arrow
right by one pixel
Move the selection or active shape
Left Arrow
left by one pixel

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Down Arrow Move the selection or active shape

down by one pixel
Move the selection or active shape up
Up Arrow
by one pixel
Esc Cancel a selection
Delete Delete a selection
Ctrl + B Bold selected text
Increase the width of a brush, line, or
Ctrl + +
shape outline by one pixel
Decrease the width of a brush, line, or
Ctrl + -
shape outline by one pixel
Ctrl + U Underline selected text
Ctrl + E Open the Properties dialog box
Ctrl + W Open the Resize and Skew dialog box
Ctrl + Page Up Zoom in
Ctrl + Page Down Zoom out
F11 View a picture in full-screen mode
Ctrl + R Show or hide the ruler
Ctrl + G Show or hide gridlines
 F10 or Alt  Display keytips
 Shift + F10  Show the current shortcut menu
 F1  Open Paint Help

WordPad keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with WordPad.

Press this key To do this

Ctrl + N Create a new document
Ctrl + O Open an existing document
Ctrl + S Save changes to a document
F12 Save the document as a new file
Ctrl + P Print a document
Alt + F4 Close WordPad
Ctrl + Z Undo a change

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Ctrl + Y Redo a change

Ctrl + A Select the entire document
Ctrl + X Cut a selection
Ctrl + C Copy a selection to the Clipboard
Ctrl + V Paste a selection from the Clipboard
Ctrl + B Make selected text bold
Ctrl + I Italicize selected text
Ctrl + U Underline selected text
Ctrl + = Make selected text subscript
Ctrl + Shift + = Make selected text superscript
Ctrl + L Align text left
Ctrl + E Align text center
Ctrl + R Align text right
Ctrl + J Justify text
Ctrl + 1 Set single line spacing
Ctrl + 2 Set double line spacing
Ctrl + 5 Set line spacing to 1.5
Ctrl + Shift + > Increase the font size
Ctrl + Shift + < Decrease the font size
Ctrl + Shift + A Change characters to all capitals
Ctrl + Shift + L Change the bullet style
Ctrl + D Insert a Microsoft Paint drawing
Ctrl + F Find text in a document
Find the next instance of the text in
F3
the Find dialog box
Ctrl + H Replace text in a document
 Ctrl + Left Arrow  Move the cursor one word to the left
 Move the cursor one word to the
 Ctrl + Right Arrow
right
 Ctrl + Up Arrow  Move the cursor to the line above
 Ctrl + Down Arrow  Move the cursor to the line below
 Move to the beginning of the
 Ctrl + Home
document
 Ctrl + End  Move to the end of the document
 Ctrl + Page Up  Move up one page
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 Ctrl + Page Down  Move down one page

 Ctrl + Delete  Delete the next word
 F10  Display keytips
 Shift + F10  Show the current shortcut menu
 F1  Open WordPad Help

Calculator keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Calculator.

Press this key To do this

Alt + 1 Switch to Standard mode
Alt + 2 Switch to Scientific mode
Alt + 3 Switch to Programmer mode
Alt + 4 Switch to Statistics mode
Ctrl + E Open date calculations
Ctrl + H Turn calculation history on or off
Ctrl + U Open unit conversion
Calculate or solve date calculations
Alt + C
and worksheets
F1 Open Calculator Help
Ctrl + Q Press the M- button
Ctrl + P Press the M+ button
Ctrl + M Press the MS button
Ctrl + R Press the MR button
Ctrl + L Press the MC button
% Press the % button
F9 Press the +/– button
/ Press the / button
* Press the * button
+ Press the + button
- Press the – button
R Press the 1/× button
@ Press the square root button

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0–9 Press the number buttons (0–9)

= Press the = button
. Press the . (decimal point) button
Backspace Press the backspace button
Esc Press the C button
Del Press the CE button
Ctrl + Shift + D Clear the calculation history
F2 Edit the calculation history
Up Arrow key Navigate up in the calculation history
Navigate down in the calculation
Down Arrow key
history
Esc Cancel editing the calculation history
Recalculate the calculation history
Enter
after editing
F3 Select Degrees in Scientific mode
F4 Select Radians in Scientific mode
F5 Select Grads in Scientific mode
Press the Inv button in Scientific
I
mode
Press the Mod button in Scientific
D
mode
Press the sinh button in Scientific
Ctrl + S
mode
Press the cosh button in Scientific
Ctrl + O
mode
Press the tanh button in Scientific
Ctrl + T
mode
( Press the ( button in Scientific mode
) Press the ) button in Scientific mode
 Press the ln button in Scientific
 N
mode
 Press the Int button in Scientific
 ;
mode
 Press the sin button in Scientific
 S
mode
 Press the cos button in Scientific
 O
mode

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 T  Press the tan button in Scientific

mode
 Press the dms button in Scientific
 M
mode
 Press the pi button in Scientific
 P
mode
 Press the F-E button in Scientific
 V
mode
 Press the Exp button in Scientific
 X
mode
 Press the x^2 button in Scientific
 Q
mode
 Press the x^y button in Scientific
 Y
mode
 Press the x^3 button in Scientific
 #
mode
 Press the log button in Scientific
 L
mode
 Press the n! button in Scientific
 !
mode
 Press the y√x button in Scientific
 Ctrl + Y
mode
 Press the 3√x button in Scientific
 Ctrl + B
mode
 Press the 10x button in Scientific
 Ctrl + G
mode
 F5  Select Hex in Programmer mode
 F6  Select Dec in Programmer mode
 F7  Select Oct in Programmer mode
 F8  Select Bin in Programmer mode
 F12  Select Qword in Programmer mode
 F2 Select Dword in Programmer mode 
 F3  Select Word in Programmer mode
 F4  Select Byte in Programmer mode
 Press the RoR button in Programmer
 K
mode
 Press the RoL button in Programmer
 J
mode

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 <  Press the Lsh button in Programmer

mode
 Press the Rsh button in Programmer
 >
mode
 Press the Mod button in
 %
Programmer mode
Press the ( button in Programmer
 (
mode
 Press the ) button in Programmer
) 
mode
 Press the Or button in Programmer
 |
mode
 Press the Xor button in Programmer
 ^
mode
 Press the Not button in Programmer
 ~
mode
 Press the And button in Programmer
 &
mode
Press the A–F buttons in Programmer
 A–F
mode
 Toggles the bit value in Programmer
 Spacebar
mode
 Press the Average button in
 A
Statistics mode
 Press the Average Sq button in
 Ctrl + A
Statistics mode
  Press the Sum button in Statistics
 S
mode
 Press the Sum Sq button in Statistics
Ctrl+S 
mode
  Press the S.D. button in Statistics
 T
mode
  Press the Inv S.D. button in
 Ctrl+T
Statistics mode
 Press the CAD button in Statistics
 D
mode

Windows Journal keyboard shortcuts

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The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Windows
Journal.

Press this key To do this

Ctrl + N Start a new note
Ctrl + O Open a recently used note
Ctrl + S Save changes to a note
Ctrl + Shift + V Move a note to a specific folder
Ctrl + P Print a note
Alt + F4 Close a note and its Journal window
Ctrl + Z Undo a change
Ctrl + Y Redo a change
Ctrl + A Select all items on a page
Ctrl + X Cut a selection
Ctrl + C Copy a selection to the Clipboard
 Ctrl + V  Paste a selection from the Clipboard
 Esc  Cancel a selection
 Delete  Delete a selection
 Ctrl + F  Start a basic find
 Ctrl + G  Go to a page
 F5  Refresh find results
 F5  Refresh the note list
 Toggle between a note list and a
 F6
note
 Display a shortcut menu for column
 Ctrl + Shift + C
headings in a note list
F11   View a note in full-screen mode
 F1  Open Journal Help

Windows Help viewer keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with the Help
viewer.

Press this key To do this

Alt + C Display the Table of Contents

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Alt + N Display the Connection Settings

menu
F10 Display the Options menu
Move back to the previously viewed
Alt + Left Arrow
topic
Move forward to the next (previously
Alt + Right Arrow
viewed) topic
Alt + A Display the customer support page
Display the Help and Support home
Alt + Home
page
Home Move to the beginning of a topic
End Move to the end of a topic
Ctrl + F Search the current topic
Ctrl + P Print a topic
 F3  Move the cursor to the search box
Additional keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts in apps

Windows keyboard shortcuts for accessibility

Microsoft Surface Hub keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts in Continuum for phones

Last Updated: Jan 30, 2018

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